The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-08-24
THE STORY or "NlNc, FAY,
How Il. Il. Elliott Tried To Make n Social Queen
of Her and Failed.

The New York NCraid says Not long
since there was Il brief notice announcing
the death of Mrs. General Il. l.. Elliott, -
wife of the late negro COngrCssman who, Il
few years ago, took such un active part in
South Carolina politics. Possibly no w0-
man of the present century has experienced
such Il sudden change from Indulgence to
opulcmCc or has risen 50 quickly in the SO.
cial scale. She was owned by Il family in
Columbia, >. G.. Her name was Nancy,
but ON account of her plump figure she
bore the suggestive appcl!atIon Of Nancy
Fat. She was ~ amiaGic, humble creature.
Happy and indolCnt, With no ambition or
pride of character, She was rs Cpntcntcd
while engaged at the most mental toll nd
drudgcry, as when, arraycd IN fantastic
and gaudy attire, She danced as belle of the
stockings. During the period OF l}epubii-
can rule, Elliott while in Columbia was
one afternoon driving behind his splendid
pair OF bays. He was dressed in his usual
style of black brOadClUth and lavender KID
gloves. AT the corner OF one of the streets
he saw Il picture that proved 10 be the KEY
to his destiny. 1t was Nancy Fat. She
had Just drawn n bucket of water from The
pump, and ii was balanced on her tuTbancd
head, the crystal drops trlckling down her
brown face and neck, and She laughed
good naturCdly. Her Shirts Were tucked
high, and there was a generous display Of
bare feet and ankles. The ciIcc, was in
stantancouS, and the congressman in broad.
cloth was hOpGiCssiy infatuated with the
merry, ignorant wafer carrier. The lCSUlt
was Il speedy COurtShip and marriage. The
transformation was wonderful aS il WIS
sudden. From the washlub and the cook
ing stove she became mistress Of Il magniii
cent homo ON one OF the fashionable streets
of Columbia. Elliott wasN man OF brilliant
intellect and unhouudCd ambition. He
was one OF the leading spirits of the licpub-
can party, and was regarded as one Of the
most intelligent negroes who was ever
known in the South. lie was from Boston,
Mass, lie was Il finished scholar and a sue
cCSsGul lawyer. His alliance with the I'm
tutorCd Nancy caused general surprise.
Yet She was received by his friends with
courtesy and Kindness. one day / was
passing her house in company With her
former mistress, when We cspicd a sight
that was dr0ll and amusing. Beside Il
marble fountain surrounded by rare cXulicS
sat Mrs. Elliott. She was arraycd in "A
costume of most extreme elegance. Peep
ng beneath her skirts of amber satin we
plainly saw her bare brown feet. AS she
saw us she q!ickly tucked them under her
skirts, and exclaimed good naturally.
Nov, old missis, don't laugh at your
niger; you know ] never did like shoes.
If the General saw me he would sCOld, but
every chance | get | just Slip then, off. All
this iinCry can't make me forget the happy
days when | was plain Nancy Fat, ana
now ] am Mrs. General Congressman
Elliott" Much amused we passed on. and
left her with her bare feet in the damp sand
of the fountain. a few years later Mrs.
Elliott became IA prominent feature in the
Republican society of the State, and also
figured conspicuoUsly in Washington. 1t
was during General Grants administration
at one Of the balls that she caused such q
sensation OF account of the devoted attcn
tons she received from certain prominent
white politicians who wished to make con.
%spicuous their approval of the social equal
ity law. The brilliant negro congressman
is dead. And only Il few days ago the wo
whom he cndeayorcd to elevate by oil
that wealth and power could do, died in
poverty and obscurity.